#7: Dragonball GT-Baby: Proliferation
#8: Dragonball GT-Baby: Creation
Meanwhile The Animatrix ranks #2 in DVD sales.
Source: Kiji Anime
From Monster Zero:
1) It seems that about every year a new bootleg Bandai figure appears on the market from China, and 2003 was no exception. The theater-exclusive Godzilla 2002 (Kiryu-Goji) turned out to be pretty popular in Japan, as opposed to the lackluster performance of recent theater figures. And when you combine exclusive figures, a demand, and production in China, you're bound to get a bootleg; or in this case, many, many boots...(Details at Club Tokyo )
2) Toho's website has the new logo for Godzilla X Mothra X MechaGodzilla up as well as a call for movie extras for a July 7th shoot near Tokyo Tower for those fans living in Japan.
From AICN:
1)Punk rock band, Stancepunks will sing the theme song for the upcoming 'Battle Royale II". Director Kenta Fukasaku says that his father even liked this song. The title of the song is "Mayonaka Totsugegitai".
2) Mituki Koga, a former professional kick boxer will be playing an operator of Riyuki(Mecha Godzilla) for the motion picture "Godzilla vs Mothra vs Mecha Godzilla... Tokyo SOS"....He will also appear in the movie "Last Samurai".
3) "The Matrix Reloaded" breaks Japanese record again. This time,it breaks first one week of release box office record ,$29.1 million. Old record is marked by "Sprited Away".
4) "The Grudge", the remake of Japanese horror masterpiece,"Juon" will start shooting at the Izu resort area(about 80 miles from Tokyo)in September.
according to their latest guide the Picturehouse Cinema in Cambridge will be having the UK premiere of Spirited Away as part of this year's film festival. Details are still a bit hazy, but the festival runs from July 10th to July 20th.
ADV Films today announced an August 26, 2003 release date for Go Nagai's Collector's Set, a three-disc collection assembling three anime OVAs created by the legendary Go Nagai, responsible for the seminal titles Mazinger Z, Devilman, Cutey Honey, Getter Robo and many others. Predictably unpredictable, the titles in this new collection tip quite a few sacred cows. Savvy slapstick and satirical prurience reign; this release is a must-have for Go Nagai fans specifically, and for serious anime aficionados in general.
The Stories: From the master of horror and off-beat comedy, Go Nagai, come three completely different and completely entertaining anime masterpieces. In Shuten Doji, time-traveling trolls enlist the aid of human boy to defeat a nameless horror that threatens the entire universe. The battle rages in the past, present and future as Jiro and his companions fight to save all they know and love. Kekko Kamen is the ultimate super-hero. Dressed only in her mask and red leather boots, and armed with an array of highly unusual attacks, she fights crime wherever she finds it. And the Delinquent in Drag isn't perverted, his parents just bought him the wrong the school uniform. What's a boy to do?
Go Nagai's Collector's Set (SRP $44.98) is a DVD-only release, including all four episodes of Shuten Doji, both episodes of Kekko Kamen, and all of Delinquent in Drag in one three-disc package. In Japanese, with English subtitles. Includes ADV Previews.
60 53 Cowboy Bebop: the Movie $20,034 -37.3% 27 -1 $742 $959,929
65 43 Pokemon Heroes $13,947 -76.3% 78 -122 $178 $713,509
The June 27/July 4 Entertainment Weekly puts Battle Royale and Kill Bill actress Chaiki Kuriyama in their "It" section, which is a special segment for up-and-coming celebrities to look out for in the future. In addition, they gave a B+ to the Bebop movie dvd, but a C- to the Hulk movie.
eMail to: cosplay@G4TV.com
Featuring a minimum of 16 additional pages to each issue, the monthly will commence with issue #37, and will retail for $5.95, just a $1.00 more than the weekly retailed. Exciting additional editorial changes will also be unveiled over the next few months.
"We pride ourselves on being attentive and responsive to the interests of our readers and subscribers," said Horie Nobuhiko, President and CEO of Gutsoon! Entertainment and its Japan based sister company, Coamix. "Our move from a weekly distribution to a monthly distribution reflects our commitment to providing the highest quality in manga. Based on numerous conversations and extensive research with our readers, subscribers, retailers and distributors, we have been encouraged to move to a monthly magazine, thereby giving readers more time to read all the exciting stories in our magazine, and giving retailers more time and longer shelf dates for the issues to reach the growing number of manga fans."
Subscribers' weekly subscriptions will be rolled over to the new monthly format automatically.
Fanime 2003 starts today Friday, June 20th and runs through Sunday, June 22nd at the Santa Clara Convention Center. For the events schedule visit this URL: http://www.fanime.com/schedule/
New this year is the much anticipated GakuFest (Music Festival). GakuFest brings the Asian, and local music scenes together for the first time at FanimeCon. Among the featured artists are the Japanese Indie JRock band BLOOD. Admission to this one day only event is separate from FanimeCon, and will be $30 at the door.
Full details on the GakuFest can be found here: http://www.fanime.com/gakufest/ The San Jose Mercury News ran a nice little article about GakuFest which can be found here:
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE -------------------- Friday, June 20th, 1pm-12am
1:00pm-1:45pm Natalise 2:00pm-2:45pm Monkey 3:00pm-3:45pm B! Machine 4:00pm-4:45pm The Echoing Green
8:00pm-8:45pm Kristine Sa 9:00pm-9:45pm 13-37 10:00pm-10:45pm BLOOD 11:00pm-11:45pm Secret Secret
Subject to change!
Last week, for the first time ever, more DVDs were rented than VHS videocassettes, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) reported today. According to VSDA VidTrac, 28.2 million DVDs were rented during the week ending 6/15/03, while 27.3 million VHS cassettes were rented. "Home video is the most popular way for Americans to watch movies, rental is the most popular home video option, and now DVD is the most popular rental format," noted VSDA President Bo Andersen. "Video renters are attracted to the quality, convenience, and special features of DVD."
Anime fans may be particularly interested in the above news following reports originating in the Japanese press (specifically The Daily Yomiuri) from 3 years ago that Lucasfilm was to possibly co-produce a 30-minute animated feature with animation start-up Anime World Osaka. To be titled "Chiisana Yosei Mirun" (The tiny fairy Mirun), the animation was reported to run in U.S. theaters and air as a 30-minute television series in Japan. The Osaka-based firm was to produce original pictures (designs) for the project and provide production capital (estimated at 2 billion Yen) which Lucas Film would then animate. The Star Wars director himself was reported to serve as executive producer on Mirun.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter via Daniel's submission
The forefront of our online efforts is currently being expressed through our new site located at www.mtac.net. We encourage all of our past patrons to drop by and see our new look and learn about what sort of great things we have planned for the future of our con.
* ANIMENEXT 2003 * OCTOBER 3-5 * HILTON RYE TOWN, NY *
New York, NY -- June 20, 2003 -- AnimeNEXT will take place in the Rye Town Hilton on October 3-5, 2003. Conveniently located only 30 minutes north of NYC, AnimeNEXT is sure to be one of the most exciting Anime events of 2003! Come and see why we are "the NEXT evolution of anime conventions"!
We are please to announce two new voice guests and a new musical guest for our show. The talented Moneca Stori and James Arnold Taylor will be joining us this year and sharing stories and insights regarding their roles as Kagome in Inuyasha, and Tidus in Final Fantasy X respectively.
AnimeNEXT has also added a second musical act to its schedule. B! Machine (http://www.wishduck.com) will be performing on Saturday October 4.
AnimeNEXT has also set its dates and venue for it's next event in 2004. Mark your calendars today! AnimeNEXT 2004 will be held on the weekend of June 18-20, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands in Secaucus, NJ. This was the site of AnimeNEXT 2002 and is conveniently located only 10 miles from midtown Manhattan near public transportation.
[SUMMARY]
* GUEST: Moneca Stori (Kagome, Inuyasha; Laura, Hamtaro) * GUEST: James Arnold Taylor (Tidus, Final Fantasy X) * GUEST: B! Machine in Concert on October 4, 2003 * DATES: AnimeNEXT 2004 06/18-06/20 @ Secaucus, NJ
(See http://www.animenext.org for more information)
[REGISTER]
Now's the time to pre-register before the rates go up! The current convention rate is $35 until September 1, 2003. After that, pre-registration will close, and you can only register at the door for the $45 rate.
You register online at: http://www.animenext.org/register
[ABOUT]
Universal Animation is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting anime and manga in the United States. Founded in NYC in 2002, the company is organizing the AnimeNEXT convention to aid in its goals.
In efforts to bring the best of the best to you each month, Animetro Studios is searching for new blood to help in the return of @anime! to the web. We're in the search for writers for all departments as well as Assistant Editors for several of our major divisions within the magazine. For a complete list of the departments and the Editors positions, please see the information on the web at http://www.atanime.com/staff.html.
"We've had a good run so far, but we can always make things better for the readers," said Timothy Georgi, Publisher/Editor for @anime!. "The success of the magazine is the first step in securing our future endeavors in the anime and manga industry. If we can keep the magazine going successfully, we'll be ready to take on more from the anime community."
If you're interested in joining the staff, please check out the staffing page or send an email to Timothy Georgi, Publisher/Editor, at tim.georgi@atanime.com.
On December 24th at 2007 at 0 hours and 0 minutes, The World went online…you entered to play, but something went wrong…Now, you are just trying to get out…
(June 19, 2003) Decipher is proud to announce it has acquired the license from Bandai Entertainment Inc.to produce an all-new trading card game based on the latest anime phenomenon to come out of Japan: Project .hack (pronounced “dot hack”). The TCG, .hack//ENEMY, will be introduced in stores throughout North America this October.
Conceived as a multimedia project from the start, the .hack phenomenon includes an anime series and a first-ever on PlayStation 2: an episodic video game series delivered in 4 double-disc parts, as well as a manga series, using the innate narrative abilities of each unique medium to tell a different part of the entire .hack saga. All elements of the .hack narrative are hugely popular in Japan already and have now also laid claim to American youth culture .
The anime TV series, .hack//SIGN, is telecast on Cartoon Network Saturday evenings during its popular block of action-adventure programming and has quickly become one of the best selling anime DVD releases of the year. The first episode of the Playstation 2 game —.hack//INFECTION — is expected to reach Sony’s Greatest Hits status within the year; and the manga series— .hack//Legend of the Twilight , according to industry experts is destined to do extremely well in U.S. pop culture shops when it debuts this September.
In recreating the .hack universe for the tabletop gaming community, Decipher introduces an exciting and fast-paced game system, combined with an organized play environment t hat will immerse the players in The World, just as the fictional roleplaying community would do. Within The World, you try to beat your opponent from the perspective of the monsters attacking and killing your opponent’s characters. Only in .hack//ENEMY will you experience The World from the point of view of the monsters and mysterious AI entities corrupting the system.
As you accumulate enough Victory Points to win the game, you are simultaneously trying to stop your opponent from beating you to the punch. And in an innovative feature that captures the feel of the massive online roleplaying game, a unique tournament structure allows players to collect experience points to “level up” their abilities and gameplay experiences. As you gain experience and levels through the organized play system, you increase your ability to gain access to exciting and exclusive gameplay.
As the emerging graduation game for anime TCG players, the strategy is deep and challenging, while the rules are still simple and easy to learn, It’s the perfect game for those who want more in an anime-based TCG, but are not looking for the complexity and rules of games such as The Lord of the Rings TCG and Star Trek CCG Second Edition . Early playtesters call the shuffle-and-play game style of .hack “fast with a high fun factor.” You can easily play a match of two or three games in less than an hour.
This fall confront the world of .hack yourself by picking up this revolutionary new TCG from Decipher. It will test you, captivate you and engulf you…but don’t let it destroy you. Welcome to The World…
Experience .hack//ENEMY Trading Card Game this summer during the convention season. Demos will be unleashed at the following gaming and anime conventions:
Decipher booth Origins (Columbus, Ohio) June 26-29 Comic Con (San Diego, California) July 17-20 GenCon (Indianapolis, Indiana) July 24-27 DragonCon (Atlanta, Georgia) August 30-September 1
Bandai Booth Anime Expo (Long Beach, California) July 3-6 Comic Con (San Diego, California) July 17-20 Otakon (Baltimore, Maryland) August 8-10 CNAnime (Toronto, Canada) August 22-24 Anime Weekend (Atlanta, Georgia) Date TBD
"Cartoon Network globally has in fact set aside an amount of $500 million over a period of five years for the creation of original animation..."
Article #2 also from Indian TV focuses on Nickelodeon Asia who has just announced three executive promotions, one of those being Hitomi Nagakaki's transfer to account director, network development and marketing. According to the piece, Nagkaki has
..." contributed significantly to Nickelodeon's cable and satellite distribution growth in the past two years in Japan."
"...she has successfully guided the channel's acquisition of important Japanese animation series and marketing campaigns to boost awareness for Nick in the Japanese market. An ex-employee of producers of Japanese animation feature film Rex Entertainment, Hitomi is currently based in Tokyo and will also be reporting to Cunningham. "
"The manga boom could well pave the way for Japanese literature to become better known abroad," said Masahiro Takano, president of TranNet KK, a Tokyo publishing and translation service.
Contiuning several recent manga business successes are cited, including Shogakukan /Shueisha's USA intro of Shonen Jump and hopefuls like the Kodansha / Random House venture announced in January and Vertical Inc. (mentioned yesterday on ANS) who is planned to recieve an investment injection of $600,000 this year by Japanese trading firm Itochu Corp..
As many may recall ANS first introduced the online world to L.A. based DOMO Records via our Exclusive Interview published in May 2002. In that instance we conveyed the then-pending release of Metropolis Oiginal Soundtrack.This summer DOMO is back with music from one of the most highly anticipated anime releases in recent times: Ninja Scroll TV. Due in stores August 26th (just days before the 9/2 DVD release from Urban Vision) the CD will feature the accompaning score to the 13-episode Ninja Scroll TV series which made its debut earlier this year in
Japan. The series is a continuation of
the wildly popular and award-winning previous work
written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Taking place in ancient Japan,
Ninja Scroll is the story of a wandering Ninja warrior named Jubei.
The music for this soundtrack is co-scored by Golden Globe & Grammy Award
winning artist Kitaro and multi-instrumentalist and composer, Peter
McEvilley.
Winner of the "Best OVA" award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2001, Animation Runner Kuromi, is the ultimate behind-the-scenes tale of Kuromi, who just landed her dream job at the famous animation Studio Petit. Unfortunately, Kuromi is in for a rude awakening! Moments after Kuromi arrives for her first day on the job, her boss, who gave his life to anime, is hospitalized, and suddenly Kuromi is the new head of the ultimate team of slackers! It's up to her to race against the clock and finish production on Time Journeys Episode 2, or else anime fans everywhere will be let down. Inspired by her love of animation, and with the help of good friends, high spirits, and a little bit of luck, Kuromi will help deliver the best episode of Time Journeys ever.
"We are delighted to bring this runaway anime hit to North America," said Sam Napolitano, Director of Sales, Central Park Media. "Moreover, there is no better venue than the Big Apple Anime Fest to launch the DVD release of Animation Runner Kuromi and introduce her to a whole new audience."
The Animation Runner Kuromi DVD Features:
* Commentary by Director Akitaroh Daichi * Animation Process Featurette * Interview With Voice Actress Lisa Ortiz. * Art Gallery * Sketch Gallery * Animation Runner Kuromi Trailers * Previews * English & Japanese with English Subtitles * DVD-ROM Features: Art Gallery, Script, Cast & Production Credits... and more!
TITLE: Animation Runner Kuromi RUNNING TIME: 80 minutes (40 minutes/program, 40/minutes commentary) RATING: 16 & UP SRP PRICE: $24.99 GENRE: Action/Adventure CATALOG #: USMD-2334 STREET DATE: September 9, 2003 PRE-ORDER DATE: August 11, 2003
On a side note, fans may be aware Vertical also carries Koji Suzuki's original The Ring novel translated to English.
Source: Publisher's Weekly
DVD (English, Japanese, Japanese with English Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles) Catalog#: RSDVD8015 Suggested Rating: 13+ ISBN: 1-57032-139-6 UPC#: 7-42617-8015-2-5 SRP: $29.95
From Gainax, with production by Toshimichi Otsuki (EVANGELION, SLAYERS, NADESICO), chief direction and story by Hideaki Anno (EVANGELION) and character design by Tadashi Hiramatsu (EVANGELION) comes Right Stuf's latest release: His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano)! A fan favorite for years, this title is sure to fly off the shelves!
Yukino has finally decided she will do Aya's play, but with Culture Fest deadlines looming, not everyone is being so supportive of her determination to make her acting debut. Maho is refusing to take part, the student council members are telling her to give up, and the other clubs have already claimed all of the materials and practice space. In the midst of the turmoil, Yukino is about to uncover help from some very unexpected sources - Mr. Kawashima and...Asaba?!?
With everyone else working hard on Aya's play, Arima is feeling alone and depressed. Yukino seems to be changing. Does she really even need him anymore?
Contains Episodes 22-26.
Special Bonus DVD features include: Translation Notes, Voice Actor Interviews, English Actresses' Outtakes, Phone Messages, Original U.S. His and Her Circumstances Trailer, Right Stuf Trailers, Scene Access, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio for English and Japanese dialogue, English and Spanish subtitles plus removable "soft" subtitles for on-screen text, and more!
Each volume will contain one of 3 completely different His and Her Circumstances DVD silkscreens!
Graphic of cover is located at: http://www.rightstuf.com/outgoing/sleeves/rsdvd8015.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
His And Her Circumstances DVD Box Set (1-5) Pre-book date: 9/2/2003 - Street date: 9/30/2003 Approximately 780 minutes, Dolby Digital Stereo, Color. High School Drama / Comedy
DVD (English, Japanese, Japanese with English Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles) Catalog#: RSDVD8016 Suggested Rating: 13+ ISBN: 1-57032-140-X UPC#: 7-42617-8016-2-4 SRP: $129.95
From Gainax, with production by Toshimichi Otsuki (EVANGELION, SLAYERS, NADESICO), chief direction and story by Hideaki Anno (EVANGELION) and character design by Tadashi Hiramatsu (EVANGELION) comes Right Stuf's latest release: His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano)! A fan favorite for years, this title is sure to fly off the shelves!
Like a drug, Yukino Miyazawa was addicted to admiration and praise from those around her. She worked hard to become the perfect student, the perfect girl. But that was before... him. Souichirou Arima. The instant she met him, she hated him. Without even trying, he snatched the very glory from her hands by easily acing the high school entrance exam that should have made her the class representative. To take back what is rightfully hers, Yukino is putting all her efforts into plotting her revenge; but was love part of the plan?
Contains Episodes 1-26 on 5 DVDs in a hard case Collector's Art Box!
Special Bonus DVD features include: Director's Notes, Translation Notes, Production Notes, Character Biographies, Storyboard Samples, Voice Actor Interviews, English Actresses' Outtakes, Original U.S. His and Her Circumstances Trailer, Phone Messages, Right Stuf Trailers, Scene Access, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio for English and Japanese dialogue, English and Spanish subtitles plus removable "soft" subtitles for on-screen text, and more!
Each volume contains one of 3 completely different His and Her Circumstances DVD silkscreens!
Graphic of cover is located at: http://www.rightstuf.com/outgoing/sleeves/rsdvd8016.jpg
Source: PR Business Wire
"...Actually the "over the top" CG and kinetic soccer moves were an inspiration that came from a classic Japanese anime called "Captain Tsubasa". The animation was very big in Hong Kong over ten years ago when it sweeped kids of all ages and even adults loved it. It has a cult following in Europe as well...."
Thanks to Daniel for the link
Thanks to Daniel for the link
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